GPSen
From Wiki
Contents |
GPS - Global Positioning System
Personal GPSunits are becoming very affordable and provide valuable information because it records a position every second or depending on configuration. A variety of waterproof models provide different info and displays it according to the specific type. Late model units are equipped with a data cable to transfer this info to your PC. With software you can analyze the performance of the day. The best feature of all, is the ability to share your track with friends and family. Take the file of your track and drag it over to Google Earth and it will overlay precisely where you were sailing. This can be emailed or as shown below, a screen shot saved and posted.
Long Beach, CA, August 2005
The blue, green and red graph at the bottom of the slide is speed. It is fully configurable to represent velocity spectrums with different colors. In this case, red is any speed over 25mph. The maximum above is about 30mph.
Next, the track is dragged onto Google Earth. It is clear where the land masses are. In the bottom left corner, is where the wind is coming from, there is an opening in the breakwall here, which is where the boat was turned around.
Here is a screen shot showing the wind speed and direction for the day in Long Beach, CA. --Factory Guy 04:38, 30 May 2010 (UTC)
Lake Peris, CA. May 2006
Max speed on this day was 32mph, then the mast step ball broke during a tack as can be seen at mile 7.5 on the graph.
San Francisco, CA. 2005
Long Beach, CA. April 2010
